Push toy



I March 31, 1959 P. SJBOLGER PUSH TOY Filed May 20, 1955 as a means of propelling the device.

PUSH TOY Paul S. Bolger, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Application May 20, 1955, Serial No. 509,858

4 Claims. c1. 46-107) parts and increase the cost of producing the toy and also frequently such toys are properly operable only when pushed from one side of the axle. Small children are generally not very discerning and therefore will sometimes seek to push the toy when the rod is on the wrong side with the result that the toy will not operate properly, if at all, and may be permanently damaged. I d

Furthermore, the push rod is not employed other than In devices in which the push rod has been utilized to support movable elements and in which the toy might be operated by pushing from either side of the axle no means have been provided for orienting the elements to face in a forward direction in all cases. Also, such devices have not included a plurality of separate slidable and rotatable elements which provide noise by contact with each other as they slide up and down the push rod and provide increased animation by rotating independently of each other.

It is an object of this invention to provide a push toy in which the elements are so arranged that regardless of which side of the axle the push rod is disposed, the toy will be operable.

A further object is to utilize the push rod for supporting movable elements of the toy which are free to slide and rotate on the push rod, which elements when assembled, by sliding together at the lower end, form a simulated figure.

Another object is to provide means by which the elements of the push toy 'will properly orient themselves when the push toy is in operation regardless of which side "of the axle the push rod is disposed so that a child may enjoy the toy without assistance in properly orienting the push'rod with respect to the axle. 1 The invention comprises a toy having spaced groundcontacting wheels connected by anaxle, a push rod, means for-connecting the push rod to the axle, at least one member slidably and rotatably mounted on the push rod, cam means on the axle for slidably and rotatably actuating said member and means for orienting said member with respect to the direction in which the toy is pushed. The member may be eccentrically Weighted with respect to the axis'of the push rod and the portion of the element which is to be'oriented in the direction in which the toy is pushed disposed on the side of the element diametrically opposed to the heavier side of the element, As the toy is pushed, the push rod is'held at a slight angle and the heavier side of the element moves to the under side so that the portion which is to be oriented in the direction in which-thetoy is pushed comes to the upper side of the rod. The invention also contemplates mounting more than one member slidably and rotatably on the push rod, one member above the other; the members being shaped to formthe United States PatentQ I Patented M ar. 31, 1.959

component parts of a simulated figure such as a clown;

the elements being independently slidable and rotatable "so that as they are actuated by the cam means and are pushed upward and rotated independently, .they simulate jumping and dancing actions of a rollicking clown or other figure.

For a more complete description of one embodiment of The toy shown in thedrawings includes spaced groundcontacting wheels- 12 which may be fixed 'on' an axle 11.

A push rod 10 isconnec ted to the axle by an element-such as eye bolt 20, or other suitable means for loosely connecting the push rod and forming a bearing for the axle.

Eccentric cams 13 are mounted on the axle 11--on both sides of the push rod 10. Elements 15 may beslidably mounted on the push rod 10. These members maytake any desired form; for example, as shown in the drawings of the elements 15, they define or constitute three sections of the trunk of a clown figure. The lowermost element 15 being provided-with leg members 21 at the outer ends of which are-positioned beads or rounded members 22 giving the stylized effect of legs and feet for the clown.

The uppermost of the three elementslS constitutingthe -further element'16slidably mounted on the push rod 10 on which the face of a clown is painted as shown in Fig. ,1. It will be appreciated that any desired arrangement of elements to amuse or interest a child may be positioned in the sliding arrangement shown on the push rod 10. A knob or pushing handle such as the rounded member 23 may be fixed at the upper end of the push rod 10, as shown in Figs 1. Knob 23, in addition to providinga convenient means for holding and guiding the push toy, also serves to retain the slidable elements 15 and 16 on the push rod; the elements 15 and 16 being free to slide up and down 'thegpush rod either separately or together, there being no connection between these elements. In operation, the child grasps the knob 23 and pushes the toy forward causing the ground-contacting wheels '12 to rotate. The wheels 12 cause the axle 11 and the cams 13, fixed to the axle, to rotate. The cams which are eccen trically mounted, as best shown in Fig. 2, turn with the axle 11, on eccentric axes, causing the elements 15, 16 to undulate, sliding upward and downward along the push rod 10. If the push toy is rolled quite rapidly, the elements 15 and 16 will be caused to jump higher on the push rod 10. The eifect of the cam action is to produce a jumping of the clown and produces a noise as the various elements 15 and 16 forming the clowns body and head collide with each other moving up and down the push rod, In addition to the cam members causing the clown elements to jump upand down on the push rod, there is a tendency for one or the other of the cams to impart a rotary motion to the lower element 15. This may result in part from the fact that the push rod 10 may be tilted slightly out of its perpendicular relationship to the axlell or by arranging the eccentricity of the cams out of phase with each other. The rotary motion and the jumping motion impart to the clown figure the pleasing animated effect of a rollicking clown.

In previous devices in which an element has been slidably mounted on the push rod for reciprocatoryac- 'tuation and in which it was desired to have the elements maintain a selected orientation with respect to the axis of the push rod,--means have -beenrequired such use.

on the push rod.

key .fer the slidable element and a lon itudina keyway It will beappreciated with provision of such means to retain the desired orientation that the elements would not be able to rotate .freely about the push'rod. In this invention, means have been provided :to permit selected orientation .and at the same time to :allow the slidable elements to rotate freely about the push .rod. The orientation means comprises weighting any slidable element on one side thereof. In normal operation of the push toy, the push rodwill be at an angle -.to the vertical and the slidable elements on the push rod, being free to rotate, will rotate so that the side which is weighted is on the lower side of the push rod; for example, if it is desired to have the portion of the element 116 -on which the face of the clown is depicted disposed in the direction in which the push 'toy is moving, the weighting means is placed on the portion of the element 16 diametrically opposite to the face portion so that when the push toy is-in its normal operating position with the push rod angularly disposed as shown in the side .view of Fig. 2, the weighted-element will rnove aboutthe rod10 to the lower side thereof bringing the face portion ofthe-element 16 to the-upper side of the push rod 10 thereby orienting the clowns face-in the direction in which the push toy is moved.

As shown in the drawings, the weighting means may be any suitable element such as a small metal bell 19 shown in Fig. 2 attached to the-exterior of-the element 16. The weighting meansmay also consist of a weight embedded in the element or the element itself may be eccentrically bored, so that the differential in weightbetween portions of the element with respect to the axis of the push rod willresult in the desired weighting of one portion of the slidable element with respect to a diametrically opposite portion of said element as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b respectively.

It will be appreciated that with the orientation means described above, the slidable element is free to rotate about the push rod and the face portion of the slidable member is properly oriented regardless .of the direction in which the push toy is moved. Furthermore, with this means of orientation, there is no additional friction which would be present in a device in which the slidable element was keyed in a keyway provided in the rod.

"Furthermore, with such a key arrangement, the element amount of movement to provide cams in which there is a maximum of eccentricity .sothat the'slidable elements will move from a point closeto the axle to a point as remote from the axleas possible. Asshown in the drawings, the camshave one maximumand one minimum positionin each cycle and the .transition from the two extreme positions is rather. gradual. More than one maximum position can be provided and the transition between the maximum and minimumpositions maybe quite abrppt in which case the action .of the toy elements will be noisier and, morev rapid.

It will be noted that the cams 13 are disposed .so as to prevent thevbearing connection 20 from sliding laterally along the axlell during operationofthe toy.

Any suitable materialsrnay be used ;in the fabrieation of the various elements of the-toy. The. various parts -may vbe fabricated ofwood, plastic and metal, or pther suitable materials. .-.It,should.a1 be :noted tha t e leg and arm elements .21 and ,17 respectively may be made .dfjflexible plastic .or rubber and the ,hand and footelemore is and. 2.2 .resreaively. may be suitable sets?- making devices such as bells or claques to increase the noise making potential of the device.

It will be appreciated that the invention described above fulfills the objects of providing a push toy in which the elements are so arranged that regardless of which side of the axle the push rod is disposed on the toy it is operable and the movable elements may be actuated regardless of which direction the toy is pushed. It will also be appreciated that the invention fulfills the object of pro viding means by which the elements of the push toy may properly orient themselves when the push toy is operated in either direction so that a child may enjoy the toy without assistance in orienting the elements.

In addition, the toy of this invention has the advantage of providing elements which because they are separate and free to rotate as well as slide on the push rod, can produce toy figures such as clowns which are capable of great activity, and therefore, serve more aptly to simulate the amusing gestures and attitudes of the figures which the combinedmovable elements represent.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the elements which I new consider the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the structure disclosed is only illustrative and the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and modified without interfering with the more general resnlts out lined.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim:

"1. A push toy comprising spaced ground-contacting wheels, an axle connecting said wheels, a push rod, bearing means connected to one end of said push rod, said axle being rotatable in the bearing means, at least one element slidably and rotatably mounted on said push rod, cam means on said axle adjacent the push rod for slidably and rotatably actuating said element, means for weighting one side of said element, the diametrically opposite side being provided with suitable visual indicia, whereby said element will be oriented, with the side diametrically opposite said weighting means uppermost when said' push rod is angularly disposed in operating position so that the indicia isfacing in the direction' in which the toy is pushed.

Q2. The push toy of claim 1whereintheweightingrneans comprises means connected to one side of said slidable e eme 3. The push toy of claim 1 wherein the weighting means comprises defining the rod-receiving vbore in s aid slidable element eccentrically with respect to said velement.

4. A push toy comprising spaced ground-contacting wheels, an axle connecting said wheels,fapush rod, hearing means connected to one end of said push red, the bearing means being rotatably mounted on saidaxle, more than one element each being separately slidably and rotatably mounted on said push rod, earn means on said axle on both sidesof the s aid bearing connection with said axle and ;in the path ofsaid slidable and rotatable elernents for defining thelocationof the bearing means and for contactingsaidslidable and rotatable elements for slidably and rotatablyactuating said. elements, along said push rod.

References Cited 7 in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,507,850 Olesek Sept. 9, 1924 1,557,321 Parke Oct. 13,1925 "2,404,186 Mariani July 16, 1-946 2,509,805 Briggs May-30, 1950 2,724,925 Fishenet a1. Nov.'29,-l955 

